Page 35 of The Truth about the Marquess
“I do not like being continually reminded of my husband,” she said, as the other couples began to leave the dance floor. “We are closely enough acquainted for me to ask you to call me Janewhenever you can, though I understand that in a place such as this, it would not be right, given what rumors might spring up if someone should overhear you.”
Lord Edenbridge considered this for a moment, then nodded, turning so he could accompany her back to the side of the ballroom where the other guests stood. Jane’s hand went to his arm almost without her thinking, though he did not seem in the least bit upset at this.
“I do hope I have not embarrassed you in any way by speaking so. There is no need for you to do as I ask.” Heat seared her cheeks as she looked away, but Lord Edenbridge stopped suddenly, just as they reached the other guests and Jane turned to look up at him.
“You must not apologize,” he said, with such a softness in his voice that the heat in Jane’s face grew all the more. “I am honored, truly, that you would not only ask me such a thing, but that you would be so vulnerable with me as regards your late husband.” His eyes searched hers. “I would never speak a word of whatever you chose to share with me. I pray that you know that.”
Jane swallowed and looked away from him, suddenly unable to look into his face.
“I do,” she said, a little huskily. “Given all that you have endured from theton,I am certain that you would never share a word of what I have said to you.”
Lord Edenbridge caught her hand and then, before she could even take a breath, pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.
“I am grateful for the trust you have in me, Jane,” he said, using her name for the first time. “I swear to you, I shall never make you regret it.”
Try as she might, Jane could not say a single word in response, given the tumbling, swirling, astonishing feelings thatpoured through her. All she could do was smile and wonder, desperately, whatever she was to do with all that she now felt.
Chapter Fifteen
“Lady Henrietta, thank you for walking with me again.” Oliver smiled as he lifted his head from his bow, offering the lady his arm. “It seems to me that you are very fond of Hyde Park. Is this not the second time that you have requested that we take a walk here?”
Lady Henrietta glanced at him.
“Yes, it is.”
Her lips did not curve into a smile, however, and her eyes were a little watchful, as though she expected him to berate her because of such a request, and Oliver was quick to encourage her.
“I do like Hyde Park very much,” he continued, wondering why she was not smiling. Was it, mayhap, because her mother insisted on remaining close to them? “I think that there will be many fine acquaintances whom we may meet this afternoon.”
Again, Lady Henrietta glanced at him, only to look away.
“Yes, I am sure that there will be.”
“I – I wonder if…” Recalling the advice given to him by the writer of The London Chronicle, Oliver cleared his throat. “I did wonder if we might speak of my supposed lack of fortune, Lady Henrietta?” This brought her eyes snapping back to his. “I knowthat there are many rumors about me and my present standing,” Oliver continued with a small smile, though inwardly, he felt his stomach knotting. “I should like to speak to you about that, if you would permit me?”
“Of course.”
Oliver frowned. There did not appear to be any real interest in the lady’s voice but, then again, he considered, it was not right for a young lady such as herself to show real interest in that way. They were not meant to show any concern over matters such as inheritance and fortune and therefore, no doubt, she wanted him to think her quite proper.
“My father, when he passed away, did not leave the estates in a good state,” he said clearly, choosing to be entirely honest rather than hide the truth. “The estate was in need of repair in some parts, and there had been some truly dreadful investments, all of which I had then to deal with.”
Lady Henrietta barely glanced at him, her head lowering just a little as her eyes darted to his for a moment.
“I see. That must have been a very difficult time for you.”
Touched by her sympathy, Oliver nodded.
“It was. Very difficult indeed, I would say. That being said, it also gave me the determination to do all that I could to make certain that my fortune was soon restored to me.”
“That is good.”
Lady Henrietta threw him another look, but then turned her gaze away again. Was she embarrassed by what he was saying? For a moment, Oliver thought to stop, to change the subject entirely, but after a moment, he chose to continue.
“My father was not the very best of gentlemen when it came to his coin,” he said, taking a deep breath as a flash of pain struck him as he remembered his shock at seeing the state of the estate finances, as well as trying to cope with the grief which had almost entirely overwhelmed him. “Therefore, what thetonsaid of me was, for some time, quite true. Iwaswithout a good deal of coin, Iwasimpoverished.” He threw out his chest, a sense of happiness filling him as he smiled at her. “Though that is no longer true.” Lady Henrietta sniffed. Oliver blinked, his smile cracking. “That is to say, I have no longer any concern as regards my fortune nor my estates,” he said, a little confused by her reaction, wondering why she appeared to be so disinclined to what he was trying to explain. “There is no concern any longer. My investments have done well, the estate will soon have all of the repairs that it required completed, and all shall be well.”
“I am glad to hear it.”
To Oliver’s mind, Lady Henrietta could not have sounded more disinterested if she had tried. His words dried up, his tongue felt a little too big for his mouth and he swallowed thickly, looking away from her. What else was he to say? He had thought that this conversation would be a little more difficult than it had been, though now he was left wondering why she did not seem to have anything to say on all that he had revealed. He had been open with her, vulnerable in speaking as he had done, and yet, Lady Henrietta had only sniffed and murmured a few words. There were no questions, no real relief that things were now as he had said, and that confused him utterly.
